Willie Taggart has been hired as South Florida's new football coach after establishing himself as one of the nation's top young prospects by turning a losing program around at Western Kentucky.

USF had a news conference on Saturday afternoon to introduce the 36-year-old, who grew up in the Tampa Bay area before heading off to play and later coach at Western Kentucky. He replaces Skip Holtz, who was fired following the worst season in USF's 16-year history.

"I always said I wouldn't leave WKU unless I had a chance to go and win a national championship, and I truly believe that can be done here," Taggart said Saturday after signing a five-year, $5.75 million contract.

"It wasn't long ago USF was No. 2 in the country. It's been proven that we can get there," Taggart added. "What we have to do now is put everybody on the bus, put 'em in the right seat and let coach T drive this bus!"

Taggart led Western Kentucky to 7-5 record this season and was 16-20 in three seasons at his alma mater. The Hilltoppers will make their first bowl appearance against Central Michigan in the Little Caesars Bowl.

The former assistant to Jim Harbaugh takes over a program that went 16-21 under Holtz, who dropped nine of 10 games following a 2-0 start this season.

"I tell people today that ever since I met Jim Harbaugh my life has been going nowhere but up," Taggart said, adding that the San Francisco 49ers coach has been a role model.

"Ever since then, I've been trying to be like him, a coach like him, a father like him, a brother like him, everything like him," Taggart added. "And, it's gotten me to this point."

Taggart played at Western Kentucky for Jack Harbaugh. Before returning to WKU, the 36-year-old Taggart spent three seasons as Stanford's running backs coach under Jim Harbaugh, Jack's son, who had helped to recruit Taggart to WKU. While Taggart was at Stanford from 2007 to 2009, he coached Heisman Trophy finalist Toby Gerhart.

Gerhart said Taggart and Jim Harbaugh possess many similar coaching qualities.

"I see a lot of similarities between Coach Harbaugh and him," Gerhart said, according to TampaBay.com. "They have similar philosophies when it comes to being relentless, being tough, running the ball. He takes such great pride in running the ball, and that's kind of gone by the wayside in college football."